Portable Stand for an Information Display Article

ABSTRACT

A portable display stand including a sheet of substantially rigid but not inflexible material having a plurality of cuts to provide four sections which are moveable relative to one another such that the sheet may be converted from a first, flat configuration to a second, erected configuration in which it is able to support an information display article in an inclined position.

This application claims priority from foreign application GB1021532.5 filed Dec. 20, 2010.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a portable stand for an information display article and which enables an article such as a mobile phone, personal digital assistant (p.d.a.), electronic game or electron book (ebook) to be supported in a hands-free manner, in an inclined position for ease of viewing.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Various designs of portable stands for portable electronic devices and other information display articles are well known and many typically are of a rigid, three dimensional form. Although they may be light in weight and may provide a stable support they are not conveniently portable.

For convenience of portability it has been proposed to provide a stand which is convertible between a compact, substantially flat form for transportation and storage and an erected form for supporting an article in one or more inclined positions for ease of hands-free viewing. One example of a known stand convertible between a storage and an erected configuration is the acrylic display stand marketed by Design Acrylics (www.designacrylics.co.uk).

However, a variety of previously proposed stands have suffered various disadvantages including one or more of not being readily converted between storage and erected configurations, of having poor stability, and not being easy and inexpensive to manufacture.

The present invention seeks to provide an improved portable stand in which at least some of the aforedescribed disadvantages are mitigated or overcome.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a portable display stand comprising a sheet of substantially rigid but not inflexible material which in a first configuration lies flat and which comprises a plurality of cuts lying within the outer periphery of the sheet thereby to provide at least four sections which are moveable relative to one another to convert the sheet from the first, flat configuration to a second, erected configuration in which it is able to support an information display article in an inclined position, said plurality of cuts being arranged to define the outlines of at least a base section for resting, in use, on a support surface, a foot stop against which, in use, a lower edge of an information display article may be restrained from sliding downwards from an inclined position, a back support, and a tab, the foot stop, back support and tab each being inclinable relative to the base section about respective hinge positions, the back support and tab being shaped to define formations which are inter-engagable to secure each of the back support and a tab in a position inclined relative to the base section.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a portable display stand in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is perspective view of the display stand of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows the stand of FIGS. 1 and 2 in a first stage of conversion to a second configuration;

FIG. 4 shows the stand of FIGS. 1 and 2 in one of a plurality of alternative second configurations;

FIG. 5 shows the stand of FIGS. 1 and 2 in a second configuration different from that of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 shows the portable stand in use to support an article;

FIG. 7 shows in plan a portable stand in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, and

FIG. 8 shows in plan a portable stand in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present inventions relates to a portable stand comprising any one or more of the following features:—

-   -   the back support comprising a notch which is part of the outer         periphery of the sheet when said sheet is in the first, flat         configuration and which in use inter-engages with the tab to         secure the stand in the second configuration;     -   the tab comprising a formation for engaging with a notch in the         back support, and optionally comprising a plurality of         formations whereby the back support may be selectively secured         relative to the tab in any one of two or more inclined positions         thereby to provide a selection of viewing angles for a supported         article;     -   the sheet being devoid of any voids such as apertures within the         outer periphery of the sheet, and optionally the plurality of         cuts being formed by die cutting or a similar technique whereby         the two confronting edges formed by a cut are in contact or         substantially adjacent one another;     -   for at least one and preferably each of the foot stop, back         support and tab the sheet material comprising a hinge position         comprising a cut which extends along a part of the length of the         hinge position, said cut optionally being formed by die cutting;     -   the respective hinge positions for each of the foot stop, back         support and tab each having mutually parallel hinge axes;     -   the respective hinge positions for each of the foot stop, back         support and tab each having mutually parallel hinge axes and the         hinge axis for the tab lying between the hinge axis for the back         support and the hinge axis for the foot stop;     -   the base section comprising a pair of distal edge regions spaced         apart by the hinge positions and each of the hinge positions         being spaced inwards from each of said distal edge regions;     -   each of the foot stop, back support and tab being rotatable in         the same direction of rotation about a respective hinge position         at least initially when converting from the first to the second         configuration;     -   one or each of the tab and back support having a distal edge         region which defines a part of the boundary of the sheet when in         the first configuration;     -   the base section comprising at least one stabiliser region which         extends beyond the hinge position of the back support, as         considered in a direction away from the foot stop;     -   each of the foot stop, back support and tab being defined by         cuts which lie relative to their respective hinge positions such         that they are each movable in the same direction when converting         from the first, flat configuration to the second, erected         configuration;     -   an edge region of the outer periphery which is formed with the         notch is profiled to provide two support zones which are spaced         apart at opposite sides and remote from the notch, said support         zones lying further from the back support hinge position than         the part of the edge region adjacent the notch. Said edge region         may be of a concave shape with the notch preferably lying         centrally of the concave profile.

The portable stand preferably is of a substantially rectangular shape. For use in supporting small electronic devices such as a mobile phone it may conveniently be of a credit card size, i.e. in the order of 55×85 mm. However it will be appreciated that a larger version may be provided if intended for supporting a larger item such as a p.d.a, a book or e-reader.

The substantially rectangular shape may be square or may comprise adjacent edges of different sizes. In the latter case preferably the hinge positions provide hinge axes which are substantially parallel with the shorter edges of the rectangular shape.

The material of the portable stand should be selected to be sufficiently rigid as compared, for example, with paper such that each of the sections will remain substantially flat when the stand is in the second, erected configuration. However the material is to be sufficiently flexible whereby, without the need to provide separate hinge components, the material of the stand can be repeatedly flexed at the hinge positions thereby to allow the at least four sections to be moved relative to one another by pivotal action.

Suitable materials for the portable stand include plastics materials such as polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, polyester or other thermoplastic elastomer.

The material may be in sheet form, having two opposite sides which are each flat. However, for a stand which is dimensioned to support a relatively large display device such as a electron book in contrast to a mobile phone, it may comprise a layer of material at least one side which is non-planar and is provided with reinforcing formations, such as reinforcing webs, that impart stiffness but do not increase weight unduly as compared with a display stand formed from a sheet having two flat sides and a sufficient thickness to provide a similar stiffness.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for manufacture of a portable stand of the type comprising a sheet of substantially rigid but not inflexible material which comprises at least four sections which are movable relative to one another to convert the sheet from a first, flat configuration to a second, erected configuration in which it is able to support an information display article in an inclined position, said sections being defined by a plurality of cuts each formed by the process of die cutting whereby confronting edges of a cut are in contact or substantially adjacent to one another, said plurality of cuts being arranged to define a base section for resting in use on a support surface, a foot stop for restricting an information display article from sliding downwards from an inclined position, a back support, and a tab, the foot stop, back support and tab each being inclinable relative to the base section about respective hinge positions and the back support and tab being shaped by the die cutting operation to define formations which are inter-engagable to secure each of the back support and tab in a position inclined relative to the base section.

Preferably, and particularly if of, or not substantially larger than, a credit card size, the display stand material lying within the outer periphery of the sheet is cut solely by die cutting and is devoid of any apertures.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:—

-   -   FIG. 1 is a plan view of a portable display stand in accordance         with a first embodiment of the present invention;     -   FIG. 2 is perspective view of the display stand of FIG. 1;     -   FIG. 3 shows the stand of FIGS. 1 and 2 in a first stage of         conversion to a second configuration;     -   FIG. 4 shows the stand of FIGS. 1 and 2 in one of a plurality of         alternative second configurations;     -   FIG. 5 shows the stand of FIGS. 1 and 2 in a second         configuration different from that of FIG. 4;     -   FIG. 6 shows the portable stand in use to support an article;     -   FIG. 7 shows in plan a portable stand in accordance with a         second embodiment of the present invention, and     -   FIG. 8 shows in plan a portable stand in accordance with a third         embodiment of the present invention.

A portable display stand 10 comprises a rectangular sheet of polypropylene of credit card size and shape. Three edges, 11,12,13 are straight but optionally, as in this embodiment of the invention, one, 14, of the shorter edges is concave and formed centrally with a notch 15.

The sheet is die cut to create four cuts 16-19 and four series of short length cuts or series of cuts which provide hinge positions 20-23 as described in more detail below.

The cuts 16-19 define four sections, namely a base section 25, a tab section 26, a back support 27 which comprises the concave edge 14 and notch 15, and a foot stop 28. The base section defines a part of the edge 14 which is at the outer boundary of the stand 10 when in the configuration shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The tab 26 (see FIG. 3) can be pivoted upwards from the base section about the hinge position 22.

The back support 27 (see FIG. 4) similarly can be pivoted upwards, in the same direction as the tab, about the hinge positions 20, 21.

Likewise the foot stop 28 can be pivoted upwards, in the same direction as the tab, to an inclined position, as also shown in FIG. 4, about the hinge position 23.

The distal end 30 of the tab 26 is provided with a series of five pairs of tab notches 31. The two tab notches of each pair are provided on the two parallel edges of the tab that extend lengthwise away from the hinge position 22. The distance across the tab between the bases of the tab notches of any pair corresponds with the width of the notch 15 in the back support 27. Accordingly, as made clear by FIGS. 4 and 5, the back support can be secured in an inclined position relative to the base section 25 in any one of five positions, thus providing the option of various viewing angles or the alternatives of landscape or portrait viewing of the device being used. In each of those positions outer edge regions 35 (see FIG. 4) of the concave edge 14, namely the edge regions spaced remote from the notch 15, provide spaced apart support for a supported information display article such as an electronic device 36 (see FIG. 6). In the position as shown in FIG. 6 the device 36 is restrained from sliding downwards from the inclined position by virtue of the foot stop 28.

As evident from FIGS. 4-6, the base section comprises two regions 40 that extend beyond the back support hinge axes 20,21 in a direction away from the foot stop 28. In consequence of the rigidity of the sheet material from which the stand is formed these regions 40 serve as base stabiliser regions to resist toppling in the event of the stand being used to support an article for which the centre of gravity acts further from the foot stop than the back support hinge positions, 20, 21. Similarly when force is applied to a screen display with a finger or probe.

In this embodiment of the present invention the stabiliser regions 40 lie adjacent the respective longer edges 11,13 of the stand. That is, they lie outwards of limb portions 41 which extend from the back support hinge positions 20,21 to the head portion 42 of the back support (see FIG. 4). In this position, in which the two stabiliser regions 40 are widely spaced, they are well positioned to resist any tendency for sideways toppling in addition to rearwards toppling. However it is not essential that stabiliser regions are provided at outward positions adjacent the aforementioned longer edges.

In a second embodiment of the present invention, illustrated with reference to FIG. 7, a portable stand 50 is constructed substantially as described above except that limb portions 41 of the back support 27 are each divided to provide two limb sections 41 a,41 b. The base section comprises a pair of stabiliser regions 42 which each lie interposed between a pair of neighbouring limb portions 41 a, 41 b.

In a third embodiment of the present invention (see FIG. 8) a portable stand 60 is constructed substantially as described in respect of the first embodiment of the invention except that the base 62 comprises stabiliser regions 61 which are of a greater length than those of the first embodiment. In consequence the edge portion 63 of the back support 64 is narrower. In this construction the greater length of the stabiliser regions, as extending beyond the back support hinge regions 65, provides the stand with an enhanced degree of resistance to toppling in a rearwards direction.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that the present invention provides a portable display stand which may be readily converted between storage and erected configurations, has improved stability as compared with the earlier referred to prior art device and, at least for the smaller sizes such as those for use with smartphones, may be manufactured economically by the use of die cutting. Furthermore the display stand as described above allows the viewing angle to be adjusted easily as well as allowing an information display article to be supported in either of, and readily moved between, a landscape and a portrait viewing mode. 

1. A portable display stand comprising a sheet of substantially rigid but not inflexible material which in a first configuration lies flat and which comprises a plurality of cuts lying within a boundary defined by the outer periphery of the sheet thereby to provide at least four sections which are moveable relative to one another to convert the sheet from the first, flat configuration to a second, erected configuration in which it is able to support an information display article in an inclined position, said plurality of cuts being arranged to define the outlines of at least a base section for resting, in use, on a support surface, a foot stop against which, in use, a lower edge of an information display article may be restrained from sliding downwards from an inclined position, a back support and a tab, the foot stop, back support and tab each being inclinable relative to the base section about respective hinge positions, the back support and tab being shaped to define formations which are inter-engagable to secure each of the back support and a tab in a position inclined relative to the base section, and said portable stand further comprising at least one stabiliser region which extends beyond the hinge position of the back section as considered in a direction away from the foot stop.
 2. A portable display stand according to claim 1 wherein the back support comprises a notch which defines part of the outer periphery of the sheet when in the first, flat configuration and which, in use, inter-engages with the tab to secure the stand in the second configuration.
 3. A portable display stand according to claim 2 wherein the tab comprises a formation for engaging with the notch in the back support.
 4. A portable display stand according to claim 3 wherein the tab comprises a plurality of formations whereby the back support may be selectively secured relative to the tab in any one of two or more inclined positions.
 5. A portable display stand according to claim 4 wherein the tab comprises at least two and preferably five pairs of notches with the two notches of each pair being provided in respective parallel edge regions of the tab to serve as formations for engaging with the notch in the back support.
 6. A portable display stand according to claim 1 wherein the sheet is devoid of any voids inwards of the outer periphery of the sheet.
 7. A portable display stand according to claim 1 and comprising a plurality of cuts formed by die cutting.
 8. A portable display stand according to claim 1 wherein, for at least one of the foot stop, back support and tab, the sheet material comprises a hinge position which comprises a cut which extends along a part of the length of the hinge position.
 9. A portable display stand according to claim 8 wherein said cut is formed by die cutting.
 10. A portable display stand according to claim 8 wherein each of the foot stop, back support and tab comprises a hinge position which comprises a cut which extends along a part of the length of the hinge position.
 11. A portable display stand according to claim 1 wherein the respective hinge positions for each of the foot stop, back support and tab each have mutually parallel hinge axes.
 12. A portable display stand according to claim 11 wherein the hinge axis for the tab lies between the hinge axis for the back support and the hinge axis for the foot stop.
 13. A portable display stand according to claim 11 wherein the base section comprises a pair of distal edge regions spaced apart in a direction perpendicular to said hinge axes of the foot stop, back support and tab, and said hinge axes each being at respective positions which are spaced inwards from said distal edge regions of the base section.
 14. A portable display stand according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the back support and tab has an edge region furthest from the respective hinge axis thereof and said edge region defines a part of the outer periphery of the sheet when the sheet is in said first, flat configuration.
 15. A potable display stand according to claim 1 wherein when converting from the first towards the second configuration each of the foot stop, back support and tab is moved, at least initially, in the same rotational direction about the respective hinge axis of the foot stop, back support and tab.
 16. A portable display stand according to claim 1 wherein the base section comprises two stabiliser regions which each lie adjacent a respective one of a pair of opposite edges of the sheet.
 17. A portable display stand according to claim 1 wherein each of the foot stop, back support and tab are defined by cuts positioned relative to their respective hinge positions such that they are each movable in the same direction when converting from the first, flat configuration to the second, erected configuration.
 18. A portable display stand according to claim 1 wherein an edge region of the outer periphery is formed with a notch for inter-engaging with a tab, said edge region being profiled to provide two support zones spaced apart, at opposite sides of and remote from the notch.
 19. A portable display stand according to claim 18 wherein said spaced apart support zones lie further from the back support hinge position than the parts of the edge region adjacent the notch.
 20. A portable display stand comprising a sheet of substantially rigid but not inflexible material which in a first configuration lies flat and which comprises a plurality of cuts lying within a boundary defined by the outer periphery of the sheet thereby to provide at least four sections which are moveable relative to one another to convert the sheet from the first, flat configuration to a second, erected configuration in which it is able to support an information display article in an inclined position, said plurality of cuts being arranged to define the outlines of at least a base section for resting, in use, on a support surface, a foot stop against which, in use, a lower edge of an information display article may be restrained from sliding downwards from an inclined position, a back support and a tab, the foot stop, back support and tab each being inclinable relative to the base section about respective hinge positions, the back support and tab being shaped to define formations which are inter-engagable to secure each of the back support and a tab in a position inclined relative to the base section, at least one of the back support and tab comprising an edge region furthest from the respective hinge position thereof and said edge region defining a part of said outer periphery of the sheet when the sheet is in the first, flat configuration, said portable stand further comprising at least one stabiliser region which extends beyond the hinge position of the back section as considered in a direction away from the hinge position of the foot stop, said base section comprising a pair of distal edge regions which are spaced apart as considered n a direction perpendicular to said hinge positions, said hinge positions each lying between and spaced inwards from said distal edge regions, said hinge positions each comprising hinge axes about which each of the foot stop, back support and tab may be rotated, at least initially, in the same direction when converting from the first towards the second configuration. 